Whether you’re looking for new ways to spruce up your office or help increase the productivity of your employees, you may want to consider the power of plants. Not only do they help to breath life into the workplace, but they’ve also been shown to provide an array of benefits that can help your employees be both happier and better workers. 

How plants can improve your workplace

Various studies across the globe have pointed to the benefits that bringing real plants into the workplace can have on multiple fronts. From various articles across the web, we found five of our favorites:

1. Plants can help increase productivity

Multiple studies have been done to show the varying benefits of plants, including their positive effects on productivity. If you’re an office manager, CEO, or other management-level personnel, you’re likely always on the hunt for new ways to help your team(s) be more productive. Did you ever consider plants as part of the solution? 

According to Wellable, “a recent study revealed that adding plants to an office can increase productivity by 15%” and that “a green office enhances employee engagement and productivity by increasing workers’ physical, cognitive, and emotional involvement in their work.” This even holds true in a study that compared the productivity of students between exposure to real plants a fake plants (fake plants not having the same effects).

2. Plants help improve air quality

VantageFit notes that, between “mold, formaldehyde, dust mites, carbon monoxide, and chemical cleaning agents,” there could be around “10 times more contaminants” in your office space than there are outside. With this in mind, depending on the variety of plant, many species have the ability to filter certain pollutants out of the air surrounding them. Here is a list of what plants have this characteristic and what they filter out. 

Having cleaner air can help boost productivity, reduce brain fog symptoms, support mental well-being, improve mood, etc. The benefits of cleaner air are endless. 

3. Plants help decrease stress

Because so many plants have to ability to improve air quality, they can also help reduce the stress and anxiety of the people around them. Green Leaf Interior Plant Solutions notes that continuous exposure to toxins commonly found in interior spaces can eventually have a negative impact on our mental well-being, increasing symptoms of stress and anxiety. By adding plants into the space, you’re able to filter out some of these toxins, reducing their negative effects.

Additionally, CEO Magazine refers to the Japanese method of Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy, used to “detoxify from stress.” While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to have your office amongst a forest (unless you work remotely), the article goes on to note that even indoor plants have similar effects as Shinrin-yoku. 

4. Plants help ward off “mental fatigue”

CEO Magazine also notes that being able to take a short mental break to look at a plant, greenery, or garden can boost productivity by up to 15%. “Just being able to see a plant in your peripheral vision is enough to boost psychological engagement with your work.” Having offices that overlook a lot of plant life, contain nice natural lighting, or even contain a decent amount plants can help you and your team reduce their mental fatigue. 

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, certain varieties of plants filter the air. Since air pollutants can lead to fatigue, the natural purifying qualities of plants can help reduce these symptoms. 

5. Plants support creativity

Is being creative part of the job for you, your employees or your team? Wellable goes on to mention that plants can help support creativity by stimulating the senses. Because of the sights and smells we receive from plants, we’re able to stimulate our sense and dig ourselves out of “mental ruts” more easily. In office spaces with these conditions, creativity can thrive. 

Plants perfect for the office

Depending on the environment, not every plant is going to live long in your office setting. Depending on the plant, you might need low light, a lot of light, regular watering, sparse watering, no drafts, high humidity, low humidity, etc. Based on all of these specific plant needs, here’s what we found:

Low Light Plants

  • Spider Plant
  • ZZ Plant
  • Philodendron
  • Parlor Palm

High Light plants

  • Dracaena
  • Fiddle Leaf Fig
  • Aloe
  • Jade plant

Drought-Tolerant Plants

  • Cacti
  • Arrowhead Vine
  • Devil’s Ivy
  • String of Pearls
  • Succulents

Water-Loving Plants

  • Umbrella Plant
  • Air Plant
  • Boston Fern
  • Baby’s Tears

High Humidity Plants

  • Sword Fern
  • Peace Lily
  • Orchid
  • Lucky Bamboo

Low Humidity Plants

  • Heart-Leafed Philodendron
  • Ponytail Palm
  • Rubber Plant
  • Zebra Plant

Hard-to-Kill Plants

  • Spider Plants
  • Golden Pothos
  • ZZ Plants
  • Philodendrons